Issuu

thebattalion l thursday,april

3, 2014

l serving

texas a&m since 1893

TIME TO TALK Monologues to explore sexuality, identity

Allison Rubenak

The Battalion

ex, orgasms, childbirth, menstruation, masturbation, rape — all are topics of Eve Ensler’s play, “The Vagina Monologues.” Seeking to eradicate social taboos surrounding female sexuality and the violence wrought against it, students will host and perform “The Vagina Monologues,” a collection of stories from women across the globe that dispel myths and give a voice to the feminine sexual experience. Performances are held through V-Day, a global organization that gives rights to read the monologues to one organization per University each year, said Bianca Morris, president of Pro-Choice Aggies, which will host the performance. Athena Mason, monologue per-

former and senior biology major, said the monologues allow the audience to reflect on personal experiences in both a humorous and contemplative environment. She said the monologues span a broad range of topics, but keep a general theme in mind. “It’s basically about celebrating the vagina, understanding the vagina and hearing everyone’s stories so we’re not just stigmatized about our own bodies,” Mason said. The monologues are infamous for their raw accounts and frankness about female anatomy, said Esme Rodriguez, co-director of the 2013 performance and senior English major. Rodriguez said the subject matter has faced controversy over the years and even the title of the See Monologues on page 5

world

bush library

Aggies weigh in on Chilean earthquakes

Panels to celebrate president’s legacy

Kadie McDougald The Battalion

n 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northwestern Chile on Tuesday, killing six and causing an eight-foot tsunami and the evacuation of coastal areas. The earthquake led to a 7.8-magnitude aftershock Wednesday night, the extent of which was not available at time of press. Angie Van Boening, geology graduate student and instructor, said the earthquake was the result of stress and friction along the subduction zone between the Nazca and South American plates, near Chile. “Chile has had some of the largest earthquakes in history,” Van Boening said. “It’s a really earthquakeprone zone.” Because of this frequency, earthquake safety is a topic of concern for the Texas A&M students who study abroad in Chili. Lisa Tauferner, assistant director for the Study Abroad Program, said two students are in Chile currently but neither was near the area of the earthquake. Both, she said, were safe and accounted for. She said standard procedure when students are near a safety hazard is to keep in touch and keep them safe. “For any students in or around the

area [of a natural hazard], we either contact those students directly or, in this case, we were notified by their study abroad program provider directly before we got a chance to contact those students,” Tauferner said. “[The students] were already notified. All the home institutions for students who are studying abroad with them at the time said all the students with them were safe and accounted for.” Eric Miller, senior international studies major, studied abroad in Viena Del Mar, Chile last semester. Although where he stayed was far from the site of Tuesday’s earthquake, he said Viena Del Mar is still located on the coast and is known to experience small earthquakes rather frequently. “There were earthquakes while I was there,” Miller said. “They have them all the time. It’s really different from how we treat them and how they treat them. When there are small ones, where the ground just shakes a little, they don’t pay much attention to it. When there’s a big one like [Tuesday’s], it’s more serious.” Van Boening said the 8.2 rating on the moment magnitude scale represents the amount of energy released, the amount of shaking that happens on Earth’s surface, any offset of the See Chile on page 2

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

President George H.W. Bush at the NFL pro day of Johnny Manziel last week.

William Guerra — THE BATTALION

Map indicates the location of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck northwestern Chile on Tuesday.

Event to evaluate Bush’s past, present and future influence Duncan Rankin The Battalion

inside culture | 2 Wylde Women Art Show The Wylde Woman Art Show, held in downtown Bryan, will commemorate the female figure. The gallery opens Thursday.

q&a | 5 The search for identity

dance | 5 Fade to Black spring show Fade to Black will host its spring show, featuring current and former students Sunday.

football | 3 LB makes mark in spring

Grad student speaks openly about transgender identity and gender studies.

Coaches praised the performance of Jordan Mastrogiovanni after spring practice Wednesday.

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The Battalion

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BAT_04-03-14_A1.indd 1

chilifest

Police advise festivalgoers to exercise caution Lindsey Gawlik The Battalion

hilifest 2014 is just around the corner and officials have teamed up to remind festival attendees to be safe. Officers from the College Station Police Department and representatives from two divisions of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service — “Watch UR BAC” and the DWI Law Enforcement Advisory Group — held a press conference Tuesday to advise A&M students going to Chilifest to plan ahead. Lt. Chuck Fleeger of the CSPD said the best thing students can do is make sure they have a safe ride home. “Our hope is that people will think ahead and make transportation arrangements in advance,” Fleeger said. “The best way is to plan a designated driver … not the person who’s had the least amount to drink, it’s the person who has had nothing to drink.” The press conference also featured keynote speaker Tracy Sheets, a College Station police officer who was hit by a drunk driver in 2010 and faced a long recuperation.

Sheets said she hopes students remember that their decisions can affect more than just themselves and said she wants to remind people, especially college students, of the consequences. Sheets emphasized the importance of appointing a designated driver by adding that she will deal with her injuries the rest of her life. Fleeger said people should not wait until the day of the event to plan a designated driver, they should try to practice safe social activity and they should drink alcohol in moderation to avoid dehydration. Festivalgoers should also take care to drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages, wear sunscreen, stay in the shade and eat plenty of food between alcoholic drinks, according to an AgriLife Extension Service press release. According to 2013 police reports, 112 alcohol-related citations were issued on site at Chilifest, nine of which involved arrest. Fleeger said students should take care to remember that officers will be on the lookout for people driving under the influence after Chilifest.

s the world looks back at George H.W. Bush’s presidency on its 25th anniversary, experts will gather at the George Bush Presidential Library to remember the impact of those four years. The Friday through Sunday event is scheduled to feature a wide range of panelists and moderators, including former Gov. John Sununu, Fox News’ Shannon Bream, executives from Yahoo and Google, country recording-artist Clay Walker and various historians. According to a news release from Texas A&M, the former president and his wife Barbara will also be in attendance. The series of panels will focus on evaluating the past, present and future of the U.S. as it relates to Bush’s time in office. According to the release, topics will include the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and Desert Storm, domestic achievements and governing in a digital age. “We couldn’t be more pleased to announce the fantastic programming for the 25th anniversary celebration of the George H.W. Bush Presidency,” said Frederick D. McClure, chief executive officer of the George Bush Foundation. “President Bush’s administration was a historic period when our country and our world changed significantly, which helps inform policymakers facing the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing global environment.”

4/2/14 11:27 PM

news

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Twenty local artists will be featured in the Wylde Women Art Show beginning Thursday in downtown Bryan.

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culture

Art gallery show to honor, accentuate women’s figures Colin Saunders The Battalion

ith the sounds and movements of belly dancers in the background, the public will get the chance to take in a downtown Bryan art show designed to commemorate the female figure. The Wylde Women Art Show will feature the work from 20 local artists and three belly-dancing troupes, including the TAMU Belly Dance Association. Miriam Rieck, curator of the Wylde Women Art Show and artist, said the female form has been a staple of art since the beginning of time and it was something she wanted to celebrate. When creating the show, she said she attempted to avoid anything too obscene or objectifying, but said children’s viewing of the show is up to parental discretion due to mature content. As the art features women without defaulting to a sensual portrayal, Reick said the show will give a different perspective on the female body and the idea of eroticism. “There is nothing blatantly sexual or pornographic,” Rieck said. “I even rejected a few people on those principles because I am seriously wideopen minded, but I was after the feel. I wanted respect. I wanted glorification.” After living in the community, Rieck said she noticed some local artists were overlooked because of the content

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Photos by Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Miriam Rieck, curator of the Wylde Women Art Show, directs where she wants the art to be hung while setting up for the show Wednesday afternoon. of their creations. She wanted to find a way to give them the opportunity to show and sell their art. Speaking from her experience as an artist, Rieck said it is small towns like Bryan and College Station that will keep the industry alive. “I think that artists are going to be what keeps the humanity in things and I think that can only happen in small towns,” Rieck said. Jill Pankey, artist and owner of Studio One Gallery where the show will be held, said men have portrayed the female body for a long time, but since most of the artists in the show are women they can show the female body in a way usually ignored or objectified

Chile Continued from page 1

ground and reports from local seismic stations. The most highly rated earthquake ever recorded was a 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale and occurred in Chile as well — in Valdivia in 1960. “Any time you have subduction zones, you’re going to have a pretty big earthquake,” Van Boening said. “So far, that I’ve read, there have been a handful of deaths and a couple were the results of heart attacks from the stress and the others were from stuff toppling over and pinning them underneath. As far as I know there hasn’t been a lot of devastation.” A positive to the location of the earthquake, Van Boening said, is that Chile has a good amount of experience with

by mainstream media. Pankey said she and her husband have owned the gallery for three years and are excited to meet and display the works of local artists in the show. Interested in art since childhood, Pankey said she only recently began painting women herself. “I don’t know much about men, even though I’m married to one and have a son,” Pankey said. “I just thought one day I would start painting what I know and that’s women.” The first night of the Wylde Women Art Show will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. The exhibit will close April 12.

The good thing about Chile is that they tend to have fairly good construction as far as earthquake preparation goes. It’s not like the Haiti situation [in 2010].” — Angie Van Boening, geology graduate student the natural hazard and has taken measures to prepare for any consequences. “The good thing about Chile is that they tend to have fairly good construction as far as earthquake preparation

I don’t know much about men, even though I’m married to one and have a son. I just thought one day I would start painting what I know and that’s women.” — Jill Pankey, owner of Studio One Gallery

goes,” she said. “It’s not like the Haiti situation [in 2010]. The building codes in Haiti are just terrible, because they don’t have the engineering to make earthquake-resistant buildings there. But a lot of places in Chile do.” Miller said he and other students studying abroad were given instructions on what to do if a more severe earthquake occured. “One of the first days I was there, [study abroad leaders] gave a short informational,” he said. “When at the university [during] a major earthquake, our instructions were to walk up the hills because the cities on the coast are really hilly. The school was right on the coastline, only a few feet above sea level, so we were supposed to walk up the hills and wait there if there was a tsunami warning.”

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893

Jake Walker, Editor in Chief Mark Doré, Managing Editor Jessica Smarr, Copy Chief Aimee Breaux, City Editor Jennifer Reiley, City Editor

Allison Rubenak, Lifestyles Editor Clay Koepke, Sports Editor William Guerra, Graphics Chief Jenna Rabel, Photo Chief

THE BATTALION is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit within the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-8450569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1.

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Have yo

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Pre-ordered you 2014 Aggieland? Reserve your copy of the 112th edition of Texas A&M’s official yearbook that will chronicle the 2013-2014 school year — traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, Greeks, residence halls, campus organizations, and student portraits. Distribution will be in Fall 2014. By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2613. Or drop by the Student Media office in Suite L400 of the MSC.

4/2/14 11:05 PM

sports

thebattalion 4.3.2014 page3

football

Halftime speech launches linebacker into spring Mastrogiovanni set to fill role on defense

soccer

Pro team tops Aggies, 3-1

Sean Lester The Battalion

t the mid-way mark of the 2013 Chick-fil-A bowl, the Texas A&M Aggies entered the locker room facing an uphill battle, trailing the Duke Blue Devils 38-17. While the leading voice in the room was quarterback Johnny Manziel, there was a young defensive catalyst who made his presence felt. “At halftime I went in and was pretty frustrated with my performance and the rest of the defense’s [performance],” said sophomore linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni. “I tried to take over as a leader and say, ‘Turn the page. Don’t even think about it.’ We went out there and bought in to what the players and coaches were saying. I think it paid off.” The halftime speeches spurred the Aggies on to a 52-48 comeback. For the 18-year-old Giovanni it became a stepping-stone in his early collegiate career as defensive coordinator Mark Snyder pointed out at Wednesday’s spring practice. “Guys, we’re in the SEC. It’s hard to play a lot of plays as an 18-yearold. That’s hard,” Snyder said. “We went through that last year. You’re starting to see the young guys relax a little bit and know what’s going on with the defense. You know, there’s phases in life and there’s phases in football. It’s starting to come together for him.” Mastrogiovanni played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman, recording 26 tackles. When linebacker Darian Claiborne was suspended for the bowl game, Giovanni was thrown into a starting role. “Part of the challenge was that he wasn’t playing as much as Darian,” said linebacker coach Mark Hagen. “So when it came time for him to

FILE

At spring practice Wednesday, coaches praised freshman Jordan Mastrogiovanni, shown during the 2013 opener against Rice. step in there in the bowl game I don’t think it was something he embraced. It was a disaster from the opening kickoff in the bowl game. It was a matter of getting a stop and you started to see the confidence come back a little bit.” This spring, Mastrogiovanni has become a starter with Claiborne suspended for a separate incident. “He’s a lot more comfortable being out with the first group and taking all of those reps with the ones,” Hagen said. “I think the bowl game he certainly took a step forward. That maybe planted some seeds and he’s jumped in where he left off. He’s really had a productive spring so far. He’s really communicating well and you can see a more confident player out there.” The increased role with the defense has put things in perspective for Mastrogiovanni, who said he grew up watching Aggie linebackers like Dat Nguyen and Von Miller. “I told myself this offseason — as

a middle linebacker — this is a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity,” Mastrogiovanni said. “I really want to take advantage of it. I’m really trying to be a vocal leader and I think I need to establish myself as a playmaker before I really try to take over that role.” Mastrogiovanni said Wednesday that the defensive coaching staff has been preaching to the Aggie defenders that their play last season resulted in a defense that ranked No. 109 of 123 FBS teams. This has served as inspiration for Mastrogiovanni and his defensive teammates to bring back the Wrecking Crew-caliber defense that once gave A&M its name. “That’s just unacceptable, especially for a program as high caliber as Texas A&M,” he said of last year’s defensive finish. “The fans deserve better. That’s not the product we want to put out on the field. We’re driven. We’re motivated. We just don’t want to have a defensive season like that again.”

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Mikaela Harvey, freshman midfielder, and the A&M soccer team fell Wednesday to the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League. See story online.

softball

Houston nips A&M, 2-1 T he No. 18 Texas A&M softball team out-hit Houston seven to two but fell to the Cougars Wednesday at Cougar Softball Stadium, 2-1. The Aggies left seven runners on base and surrendered four walks to the Cougars in the loss. Senior center fielder Emily Albus led all players with three infield hits. Senior catcher Nicole Morgan drove in Albus in the top of the

third inning for A&M’s only run. Katie Marks, the Aggies sophomore starting pitcher, took the loss and saw her record go to 12-2. Marks went all six innings on the mound for head coach Jo Evans. A&M (26-10, 7-5 SEC) travels to Lexington this weekend to face No. 12 Kentucky (29-7, 5-4 SEC) in a three-game series beginning Friday. Tyler Stafford, sports reporter

CONGRATULATIONS! Join the celebration as 4,800 shiny new Aggie Rings are to be delivered at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center.

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the battalion 4/2/14 11:07 PM

news

page 4 thursday 4.3.2014

thebattalion

rec sports

Cheer club preps for nationals Duncan Rankin The Battalion

he Aggie Competition Cheer Squad will hold its annual Show Off where members will showcase the routine they will take to the National Cheer Association competition in Florida. Although the group was established 10 years ago, it’s only been a Rec Sports club for the last four years. The first six years the group was just a few individuals who decided they wanted to compete. “Back 10 years ago, you had a squad that was a group of talented individuals — individually,” said head coach Jacob Eaton. “But they didn’t really have the leadership or support and it just took awhile for it to all come together.”

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Eaton said with the help of a former squad member who became head coach, this group of girls laid the groundwork for the competition squad of 22 women that exists today — one that Eaton said is more prepared than any before to compete in Florida. “This year is definitely the most talented squad overall,” Eaton said. “The girls this year are just truly, truly talented and the talent is able to be displayed when they work together.” Sydney Lewis, squad president and senior communication major, said unlike other universities with more developed programs, the Aggie squad qualified for the competition in Florida by sending in a taped performance. “You have to qualify and most teams qualify through a summer camp they go to, but since we’re just a Rec sport we don’t do that, so we have to qualify through a video,”

WHEN

Lewis said. “We make a bid tape and send in that.” Madeline Schulz, squad vice president and sophomore business major, said it was a struggle starting a cheer squad on a campus with such strong Yell Leader traditions. Schulz said there are certain misunderstandings about the squad. “When the competition squad first started there were some people who weren’t very happy and expressed in fervent terms their displeasure,” Schulz said. “But in actuality we don’t do any cheering at all.” Schulz said the squad does more technical work rather than so-called “gameday” cheering. “Competitive cheering is

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really technical,” Schulz said. “You have a 2:30 routine and there are certain skills you have to throw in depending on your skill level like layouts, whips, kick-doubles and baskets — all very technical. Then gameday cheerleading you use flags and you do, ‘Go, team, go.’’’ Eaton said the team is focused on the upcoming National Cheer Association competition. “We want to win and this year we’re definitely the most capable of that,” Eaton said. “But really, I just want the PROVIDED girls to go out there and leave it all on the mat.” The Aggie Competition Cheer Squad will showcase its The Show Off will be held nationals routine Sunday in the Rec Center. Sunday in the Rec archery room.

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puzzle answers can be found on page 2

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Greetings Texas A&M Seniors! Here is your chance to land a great job and to begin a career in the oil and gas industry! An Industrial products distributor for the oil and gas industry that specializes in carbon, stainless and chrome pipe, pipe fittings, flanges and valves is currently looking for the right candidate to join their inside sales group for their growing Houston branch. The ideal candidate must be a self starter who is organized, can work with a diverse group of people, and is excited to learn. The ideal candidate would be graduating in May of this year with a degree in Industrial Distribution or with a degree in Business Marketing, Finance or Accounting. This position is an entry level sales position and only people that are motivated to succeed and willing to learn our business from the ground up should apply. This person must be proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Lotus and also needs excellent written and oral communication skills. Company offers a compensation package that includes a very competitive base salary, 401K plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as (2) weeks paid vacation after (6) months. Company will start interviewing immediately and would like to hire this candidate for work beginning June of this year. Please submit resume to: Derek Jones at djones@ipipes.com. J. Cody’s hiring at all positions, apply within, 3610 S. College. No experience necessary just common sense! Lifeguards and Water Safety Instructors for Briarcrest Country Club and Castlegate Community. Fun working environment, flexible hours. To apply call 254-498-5315 or email mturner@phillipsevents.com Equal Opportunity Employer. MEMdata, a local hospital equipment management company is seeking dependable and organized FULL & PART-TIME employees to be part of a growing team! Must be able to work a minimum of 24 hrs/wk, M-F 8-5. Good telephone communication and negotiation skills required. Must be self-motivated and able to multi-task while working within deadlines. Computer skills essential & knowledge of MS Excel a plus! Pay DOQ plus bonuses. Email resumes to careers@memdata.com or fax to 979-695-1954.

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HELP WANTED New Position: Part-time real estate assistant position needed for busy real estate office. Must be a detail-oriented people person with reliable transportation and have reasonable computer skills in MS Word and MS Excel. This staff position requires 20-25 hours per week with additional optional hours available from time to time. Start date available immediately. For job description and application, go to: www.coventryglenrealty.com and click on Employment Opportunities side bar. Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant now hiring wait staff and hostesses. Experience preferred but not necessary. Apply in person M-F, 2-4pm. No calls, please. 1007 Earl Rudder Fwy., South. RA or entrepreneur? Wants to earn extra money? Premium energy drinks distributor opportunity! Call 9792090778 call for an appointment. Stoney Creek Ranch Christian camp, in New Ulm, TX is hiring energetic college-aged students who have a love for Christ. Needed Summer and Fall 2014. Must be willing to serve, make positive impact on others, be enthusiastic and be fully involved in the fun-filled camp experience, and create safe and supportive environment for all campers. If interested, contact Pam Gray, Class of ‘85, Operations Dirctor, pam@stoneycreekranch.org, 713-851-7292. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys. VOLUNTEER COACHES NEEDED! The City of College Station is seeking positive, enthusiastic and motivational youth volleyball and basketball coaches. Programs begin early May and run through July. Learn more at cstx.gov/sports or apply today at cstx.gov/sportsvolunteer

REAL ESTATE 8 CS 3/2 Duplexes, shuttle, $229,900, Town & Country Realty 979-777-6211, 979-739-2035 B/CS. Sell/Buy/Invest! Michael McGrann TAMU ‘93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035, mike@aggierealtor.com Nadia McGrann 979-777-6211, Town & Country Realty.

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4/2/14 9:46 PM

news

page 5 thursday 4.3.2014

thebattalion

THE ROAD TO IDENTITY

Q&A:

Transgender grad student unwraps path to finding herself

Pallavi Kaushik, city reporter, sat down with Eleanor Lockhart, communication graduate student and transgender woman. Lockhart, who was given the name Luke at birth, shared her experiences as a student, an academic and a woman.

these feelings dawned on me, I approached graduate school. I wouldn’t let myself think it — because it’s a big change. I know myself and knew that if I thought of transitioning as anything but a scoffing dismissal, I would end up pulling through — because I’ve always been a determined personality.

THE BATTALION: What was your life like growing up?

THE BATTALION: As a younger student what was your experience like in college?

LOCKHART: Well it’s important to understand that for my entire life — up until August of last year — I lived my life as a guy and didn’t particularly feel comfortable or enjoy living like that. As long as I could remember I have felt resentment to the gender assignment I received and I can be sure feeling that if I ever were to reconstruct my life from the very beginning, I would want to be born a female. To me it had never occurred that I could be a transgender woman at the time without being given the chance to reboot my entire life. The transgender visibility was very low during the times I was growing up. At first I assumed that being transgender meant ruining any chances of having a normal life and was going off only media representations and stigmas. As I kept up my contacts I learned that transgender people actually had statuses that they would be able to overcome. As all

LOCKHART: I started taking my first college courses part time when I was 12, so when it came time to be old enough for high school I ‘dropped out of college’ to attend public high school. And that’s where I sort of got all my bullying. I did finally make a few close friends, but the bullying remained. I was bullied for being a nerd who liked Star Wars and with a name like Luke it led to nicknames like “Skywalker” and even some homophobic slurs — which was strange for me considering I was nothing but publicly straight at the time. That’s where I slowly developed this association with being a nerd or anybody slightly different and being persecuted for it. I got through it — luckily the school dealt with the bullying. All through this process to be more socially interactive and aware I was struggling to define myself as something and none of the options were something I could

live with. THE BATTALION: How has your identity as a transgender woman and childhood affected you life in academia and grad studies? LOCKHART: So, I often assume and worry that my identity was so different from the Aggie norm when I got here — being an unathletic Wisconson male and on the left side of the political spectrum. I was not the ‘usual’ Aggie material — even as a guy. I actually feel as if I get all the possible, ‘Woah, you’re different’ up front now. It’s been two semesters that I have been Ellie and not Luke in the classrooms now and I haven’t received any direct prejudice up front or been a victim of hatred yet. And Aggieland has let me have a fairly positive experience. I don’t feel like it’s accentuated either. We are statistically one of the least LGBT-friendly colleges in Aggieland, however people are polite here. Even if they are judging you within, they are generally polite up front. THE BATTALION: Do you hope to be an influence or mentor to students who may be dealing with similar sentiments? LOCKHART: Yes I certainly hope to be. On March 31, it was actually International Day of Transgender Visibility and I hope that my visibility aids

fade to black

Dance crew picks up beat for spring show Fade to Black welcomes former members Lauren Silva

The Battalion ocusing on more than the rhythmic pounding of feet on the stage floor, BeyOnDa Beat will feature current and former students in Fade to Black’s spring semester show. Fade to Black, an on-campus hip-hop dance crew, was founded in 1991 by a group of women searching for a more diverse dance experience. Today its 60plus members still have a primary focus on hip-hop, but they also include jazz, tap, lyrical, tango and contemporary dances at their performances. BeyOnDa Beat, the spring semester show, emphasizes the love and passion hidden behind the steps and the beat of the music, said Brittany Willet, Fade to Black president and senior sports management major. “All of our dances mean something more to us than just beats,” Willet said. “We hope you see beyond just the beat and that you can see how much work we put into this organization.”

All of our dances mean something more to us than just beats. We hope you see beyond just the beat and that you can see how much work we put into this organization.” — Brittany Willet, Fade to Black president

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Heran Guan — THE BATTALION

Fade to Black members pose Wednesday during a practice for BeyOnDa beat, the group’s spring show. BeyOnDa Beat will feature an alumni dance for the first time that will include Aggies from classes as far back as 2002. Willet said this was a way to honor the strong relationship current members have with graduates. “The love of dance never really goes away after you graduate and a lot of the alumni do still dance,” Willet said. A large number of the past members now live in Dallas and Houston, Willet said, and are attending practices to learn a routine choreographed by a past president. “We are incorporating all the elements of old and new and quite a few of the alumni are coming back for this,” Willet said. Evan Bretos, sophomore telecommunication media studies major, has been a member for two years and is one of the choreographers for the show.

“This will be the best show Fade to Black has had yet and will have for a couple years because the seniors this year are like legacies,” Bretos said. “And since they are leaving they are pulling out their best stuff.” Mary Devillez, freshman business administration major, became a member last fall and said the members have been devoting the entire week to rehearsals, including an impromptu step-up style practice in the Student Recreation Center parking lot after the center closed at midnight. “At 11:55 someone said, ‘Why don’t we just carry it outside?’ And everyone kind of jumped on the idea so we packed up our things and moved outside and started performing,” Devillez said. BeyOnDa Beat will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rudder Auditorium. Admission is $10.

Pallavi Kaushik — THE BATTALION

Eleanor Lockhart, communication graduate student, said she hopes to help others find the words to define themselves. people in understanding their feelings. See, some people might still be unaware of the transgender option and if you are, you need to be able to find out. So certainly, I feel being a visible LGBT is a good thing on this campus. It certainly may lead more students to be more aware on a very abstract level. And also the more of us that can come out of the closet safely and be visible is a step toward preventing others from making us invisible. But it’s

Monologues Continued from page 1

work warrants objections. “You can’t expect everyone to listen, but I just wish people wouldn’t be disgusted by that word,” Rodriguez said. “It’s like talking about your elbow or your toe or your ears. You can’t use the word ‘vagina,’ because it’s just been turned into [something] disgusting.” Rodriguez said the monologues “bring a lot to the table” theatrically because they address issues like rape and female genital mutilation. She said although the language is graphic, it could encourage people to think about the reality of certain situations. “You just can’t forget these things happen to real people so that’s the point of it. It’s speaking for the unspoken,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of people don’t want to talk about how vaginas exist — like in certain countries people cut off parts or completely remove it just because females should not feel pleasure in any sense.” Kallie McWhinney, junior biomedical sciences major, said although she was not a member of Pro-Choice Aggies, she was compelled to perform this year. She said the themes of the monologues are applicable to anyone. “Just because you don’t have a certain body part doesn’t mean that we don’t have the same pilgrimage,” McWhinney said. “For example the gay rights movement has largely been compared to the civil rights movement in the 1960s — two totally different things, but they’re both along the same lines of what we’re allowed to do, what we’re not allowed to do.” McWhinney said although someone may not identify as a female, the struggle to find acceptance and be acknowledged for one’s own needs and feelings is the same. “That’s the same thing that applies to if you are transgender, identity of, ‘I’m not a woman,’ or, ‘I don’t have a vagina’ — you still may feel like you’re not able to talk about your body openly and talk about that you have been assaulted or openly talk about the fact that female genital mutilation or male genital mutilation happens to you,” McWhinney said. “We need to be able to be open, we need to be able to communicate to others about how we feel.” Saad Dawoodi, junior biochemistry major, attended the Vagina Monologues last year. He said he arrived to the performance with an open mind and said it does an excellent job of vocalizing issues that are “swept under the rug.”

also something I very strongly emphasize in my class. I’m here because I am an expert on the subject that I have been assigned to teach and that you have chosen to study and I ask that you see me as a peer in your school and a lecturer in your class regardless of how I look. But definitely I also let my students know that they are welcome to come and speak to me about any personal concerns or guidance.

“I think when we talk about bodies, we talk about the collective body,” Dawoodi said. “Like it’s never about ‘my’ body, it’s about this standard of bodies, like the body has to look this way, feel this way. It’s never about the individual brand, so I think as far as the Vagina Monologues go and making the experiences of the body on an individual and personal level — I think that is excellent.” Heather Wheeler, program coordinator at the women’s resource center, said society has the potential to look at sexuality in an unhealthy way because of the importance placed on gender roles. “What it does for women who want to go out and have partners and engage in healthy relationships that do involve sexual contact, it stigmatizes and shames them and then again for men who don’t want to go ahead and be out there, it draws questions about their masculinity, especially from other men,” Wheeler said. Dawoodi said he liked the performance because it brings anatomy to the forefront. He said he thought American society has a reputation for being over-sexualized, but felt people were still uncomfortable with talking about their bodies. “I think people get squeamish when they think about genitalia, whether that be a man’s or woman’s genitalia,” Dawoodi said. “I think that there is this discomfort around sexuality.” Rodriguez said she thought a lot of women feel shame when talking about sexual experiences. “Weird things happen and girls feel shame in talking about this because some of them have probably gone through similar experiences and have never wanted to talk about it,” Rodriguez said. “Other women have just been taught by their parents, ‘Don’t be sexually open with yourself.’” McWhinney she said although the performers may have differing views on sexuality, the monologues have been important to them. “Some of us have really heavy pieces and I can tell those pieces are something that really touches them, or other people thought this would be just for fun,” McWhinney said. “So even the motives — we’re all doing this for us for different reasons and I’m just appreciative of that.” “The Vagina Monologues” will be from 5:30-6:40 p.m. Thursday and Tuesday in MSC 2502. Admission is free and all donations will go toward the Brazos Valley Sexual Assault Resource Center.

4/2/14 11:19 PM

TRANSFORM Lives through Teaching! Consider a Teaching Career with Great Job Opportunities. Please join the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC) for a one day, come and go informational to help answer questions about teacher certification. We will reveal to you options for teacher certification in EC-6th Generalist, 4th-8th grades or 7th-12th grades. Come discover how you can transform lives through teaching! Where: Heaton Hall; Reception Area When: Friday, April 4, 2014 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

thursday 4.3.2014

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thebattalion

gaming

Studies target consumer experience

tlac.tamu.edu

news

page 6

n response to the rapidly changing nature of the gaming industry, a wellknown video game retailer has partnered with the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M to redesign the retail experience and create innovative ways to interact with customers. The GameStop Technology Institute, along with founding partners IBM and the Center for Retailing Studies, was formed in March to use GTI to research innovative ways of altering the retail experience at brick-and-mortar stores. Kelli Hollinger, director for the Center of Retailing Studies, said technology has increased the information available to customers and fundamentally changed how retailers do business. In light of that, she said GameStop needs to research these changes to stay relevant in today’s market. “Customers are more informed, demands are higher and there are more choices in the market place,” Hollinger said. “To be a retail leader and stay at the top of the game where they want to be, they need to constantly research and implement those changes and Texas A&M will hopefully let them do that.” The Center for Retailing Studies will provide research

in areas such as e-commerce, marketing and innovation. Hollinger said in addition to providing the retailer with an extensive knowledge of the retail world, the center will also help GTI investigate new avenues that would produce a greater overall customer experience. “We are helping GameStop identify research opportunities to understand the problems customers face while they’re in stores,” Hollinger said. “Instead of promoting by using the big banners that everyone has seen, we will help them gain customer insight in order to target markets for their customer.” Hollinger said the partnership will allow students at the Mays Business School to gain experience helping an established retailer grow its business. “The graduate students will be working on a consulting project in digital marketing with GameStop in Fall 2014,” Hollinger said. “Students are going to have case studies that they have been involved with in how a $10 billion retailer improves its tech and its marketing strategy for customers. That is a tremendous hands-on learning experience for students.” GTI senior director Charlie Larkin said the first thing GTI hopes to do is tie technological aspects into brick-and-mortar stores and identify the priority areas of research that would provide the greatest benefit to their storefront efforts. As the partnership is still

young, GTI senior director Charlie Larkin said they are currently working to identify priority areas of research for GameStop. “It’s a little too soon to try and nail it down to a short list, the reason being is that we’re just getting formed and we’re partnering with the Center for Retailing Studies at A&M and IBM, and others in the future to help us define what those priorities will be and what those top needs are,” Larkin said. Larkin said GameStop plans to utilize its College Station locations to test the techniques that emerge from the partnership. They will also launch these initiatives at locations in Austin, where GTI’s other partner, IBM, is based. He said that as a center of both industry workers and consumers, Texas A&M stands as a resource for both innovation and feedback to improve retail. “We really want to drive the next generation of retail with our stores and Texas A&M is building the next generation of retail workforce,” Larkin said. “It’s also a great intersection of future retail workers and our customers. I feel Texas A&M students have a lot of great unique perspective on gaming and combining that with their learning and experience, they can give us great feedback on how to move forward.”

Computed CAPEX and OPEX. Then learned how to cook Tex-Mex.

“One thing I’ve learned during my first year here is that capital expenditures and operating expenditures are only part of the EY equation.

See every amazing angle at exceptionalEY.com.

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On my project team, I work with people from around the world. Thursday is our international cooking night, when we share our favorite dishes and a bit about our ancestries. We’re a team in the office, a team in the kitchen.”

4/2/14 9:37 PM